When an intracranial aneurysm ruptures and bleeds, resulting in a subarachnoid hemorrhage, the mortality rate can be 40% to 50%, with severe morbidity of 10% to 20%. Endovascular coil embolization using interventional neuroradiology is a treatment option for intracranial aneurysm as an alternative to neurosurgical craniotomy. The treatment decision is based on a number of medical criteria including the size and location of the aneurysm. With endovascular coiling, a catheter is inserted into the femoral artery near the groin and navigated to the site of the aneurysm. Small helical platinum coils are deployed through the catheter to fill the aneurysm, and prevent it from further expansion or rupture.
In the recent past, patients from the KHSC neurosurgical catchment area who would have normally come to KHSC for neurosurgical consultation and treatment, were redirected to Ottawa or Toronto if they needed endovascular coiling procedures. While the coiling procedure for ruptured aneurysms with subarachnoid hemorrhage has been in place for a few years, people from across the KHSC neurosurgery catchment now also have access to an elective coiling procedure at KHSC. Launching the coiling service at KHSC was the result of collaborative planning across many teams including Interventional Neuroradiology, Neurosurgery, Anesthesiology and Perioperative Services with the support of the Stroke Network team. Elective neuro-interventional coiling service for non-ruptured intracranial aneurysms was launched in September at KHSC!
Dr. Donatella Tampieri, Neuro-Interventional Radiologist joined the KHSC interventional team in 2018 from McGill. The coiling procedure takes place in the Interventional Radiology angiosuite at KHSC-KGH site. Click here to learn more about the positive impact of this innovation at KHSC for patients. In 2020, KHSC received it designation from the Ministry of Health as a Cerebral Aneurysm Coiling Centre for ruptured aneurysms and now in 2021, KHSC received the good news about its designation for the non-ruptured aneurysms. The first elective coiling for non-ruptured intracranial aneurysm took place in September 2021. There was great collaboration amongst stakeholders across KHSC to review and develop the flow and clinical processes in preparing the launch of this new elective coiling service.